The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 402: Slip of Fate

As Bayern Munich entered injury time with one minute remaining, they substituted two players: Scholl and Ziegler.

Obviously, they came on as substitutes to take the penalty kick.

"After 90 minutes of regular time and an additional 30 minutes of extra time, the score remains unchanged, and now it's time for the brutal penalty shootout! This reminds us of last season's Champions League final, where Millwall triumphed over Real Madrid 3-0 in the shootout. Hall's chosen order of penalty takers became a hot topic after that match. How would Millwall perform today at the Olympiastadion in Munich? Bayern Munich boasts home advantage, with tens of thousands of fans putting pressure on their opponents while cheering for them. Can they take another step toward the dream they've chased for 23 years?"

The players were gearing up for the shootout; substitutes and those who had been substituted came to offer support, while the medical team and masseurs tended to those who had played intensely for 90 minutes.

Aldrich was pondering the order of penalty takers.

This was something that couldn't be prepared for beforehand. Although they could practice penalties, it was difficult for the head coach to have a definitive list in mind, since players might not make it through to the final minute, thus disrupting the plan.

Klinsmann spoke to Aldrich with a serious expression. "How about a strategy like last season's final? If the goalkeeper and defenders score, it will put tremendous pressure on the other side."

Aldrich glanced thoughtfully at Butt, whose demeanor remained calm. He then looked over at Kahn nearby before finally shaking his head. "That might be too risky."

This unconventional tactic had worked the first time, but Hitzfeld wouldn't likely underestimate how Millwall would arrange their penalty takers. Last season, Millwall's order of the goalkeeper, defenders, and midfielders taking penalties had caused quite a stir post-match, becoming something of a classic in tactical discussions.

Even as the Bayern Munich players saw Millwall's lineup for the penalties, they were likely mentally prepared for it.

Aldrich believes that letting Butt take the penalty kick first will put more pressure on Butt rather than on Bayern Munich.

In any national team with a top goalkeeper, there are always some outstanding talents forgotten in the shadows. In the national team, Butt always stands in the shadow of Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann. Will this have an impact on his mentality? Aldrich really doesn't know.

Kahn had just been promoted to the main goalkeeper for the national team this season, riding a wave of confidence, while Butt had enjoyed significant honors with Millwall but remained third choice in the national squad.

Aldrich finalized the order of penalty takers.

Before the shootout began, the eleven players took to the center circle. Butt embraced each teammate as he walked to the goal, while the remaining ten from Millwall stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing solemnly toward the goal.

On the sidelines, Aldrich called over his coaching staff and medical team, who lined up beside him in solidarity, with the substitutes mirroring their actions.

This seemed to have become a Millwall tradition.

As the brutal penalty shootout approached, they would stand together, turning from scattered individuals into a formidable unit, projecting absolute confidence and providing strength to those on the field.

As Bayern Munich players approached to take penalties, the stands fell silent, with home fans hoping to minimize distractions for their players.

Basler stepped up first.

With a powerful strike, the ball flew straight into the corner. Butt guessed the right way, but the speed and angle were too much for him.

"Bayern Munich has made a solid start!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd, followed by a cacophony of noise aimed at unsettling Millwall's players.

"Who will Millwall send in? Butt? Or maybe Materazzi? Oh, it's not Butt, it's Larsson stepping up to take the first penalty."

With Kahn in front of him, Larsson stepped up confidently and fired a shot into the corner, leaving Kahn going the wrong way.

"Larsson held his nerve and struck the first blow for Millwall!"

Scholl scored.

Henry scored.

Jankel scored.

Pirlo scored.

Matth?us scored.

Materazzi scored.

"The first four rounds saw both teams hit all their penalties! Now moving into the fifth round, Bayern Munich's Effenberg steps up. He was the one who equalized earlier with a header; will he provide another boost of confidence with this penalty?"

Effenberg stood confidently at the spot. With a powerful, precise shot, Butt again dove the right way, but it was a shot no keeper could save.

"5-4! Bayern Munich has shifted the pressure entirely onto Millwall. Now, let's see who comes up for Millwall as their last shooter—and, unsurprisingly, it's Nedvěd!"

Nedvěd didn't even glance at Kahn; he simply charged forward and struck the ball powerfully into the net. Kahn, visibly frustrated, dived correctly this time and managed to touch the ball, but his efforts were in vain as it nestled into the back of the net.

"Both teams scored all five penalties! The penalty shootout continues!!"

Stepping up for Bayern Munich is Ziegler, their sixth shooter. With a clever feint, he tricked Butt and coolly slotted the ball into the opposite corner.

Now, it was Millwall's sixth player's turn.

But no one stepped up.

"Hey, it's your turn."

Southgate gave Ronaldinho a gentle nudge, snapping him out of his daze. Ronaldinho released his teammate's shoulder and prepared to take the penalty.

"Wait a second, why don't I take it?" Southgate proposed, concerned about how Ronaldinho was carrying himself.

However, Ronaldinho shook his head firmly and began walking step by step toward the penalty spot.

Following the five rounds of penalties, the rules for the shootout allow players to step up freely. However, a player who has already taken a penalty cannot be called upon again until all eleven players have had their chance.

Before the shootout began, Aldrich had casually mentioned that if it went to five rounds with no winner, Ronaldinho, Lampard, and Zambrotta could go first.

His implication was that any of the three could take a penalty; he hadn't specified an order. But perhaps because he mentioned Ronaldinho first, everyone assumed he had to be the sixth shooter.

Amidst the raucous atmosphere of the Munich Olympic Stadium, Ronaldinho sauntered up to the penalty spot, cupping the ball affectionately and planting a kiss on it before positioning it for the shot. He backed away a few paces, took his run-up, and struck—goal! The ball bulged the net!

But hang on, the referee's arm shot up, indicating it was a no-go.

Ronaldinho's jaw dropped in disbelief as the referee pointed out that he hadn't yet blown the whistle.

Aldrich stared, his heart racing like a drum.

Ronaldinho had jumped the gun; although his shot found the net, it was a glaring sign of just how jittery he was!

Gaining his composure, Ronaldinho prepared to retake the shot, this time waiting for the referee's signal.

As he focused on the ball, the noise from the stands echoed in his ears, and a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

Winning the UEFA Champions League—an unparalleled honor, the expectations from his teammates, the support from the fans, and his own shining moment...

He had to score this penalty, he had to—there was no room for failure.

As he gathered pace, setting himself up to shoot, the crowd collectively gasped.

He slipped!

During the fall, his toe brushed against the ball, sending it rolling languidly toward the goal. Kahn was momentarily deceived by Ronaldinho's fall, but he recovered quickly, pivoting to dive and snatch the ball off the line.

Watching the ball fail to enter the net, Ronaldinho felt as though time had stopped. In that chaotic minute, he didn't even notice the sharp pain radiating from his thigh. None of that mattered; the anguish in his heart eclipsed any physical discomfort, feeling a thousand times worse.

The noise around him transformed into an earth-shattering cheer, the jubilant roar of Bayern Munich's fans celebrating.

Kahn leaped up and sprinted towards his teammates, rushing past Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho lay on his back, hands covering his face, tears streaming uncontrollably through his fingers...

Self-reproach consumed him, as if a devil was devouring every emotion he felt. A voice echoed in his heart.

You've let everyone down—fans, coaches, teammates!

Players and coaches from Bayern Munich rushed onto the field, celebrating their comeback!

"The penalty shootout is in the books, and Bayern Munich edges out Millwall in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with an aggregate score of 1-1, winning the shootout 6-5! That means they're back in the hunt for the Champions League title after a 23-year gap! Millwall, the defending champions, may have bowed out in the shootout, but what a performance they put in—absolutely commendable! Yes, Ronaldinho missed the pivotal penalty, but hey, he's just 19! When you think of youthful legends like Henry, Pirlo, Materazzi, Butt, and Zambrotta, Millwall has done exceptionally well. It's a shame they had to exit in such a dramatic manner, and you have to feel for their fans—they'll be left with a bittersweet taste."

In the stands, thousands of Lions fans, after a brief silence, began to sing together.

In this moment of glory, the fans had created catchy new songs, but now they sang the oldest and most steadfast one.

"No one likes us, we don't care! Wherever you are, we'll stand by you till death..."

The collective voice of thousands drowned out the celebrations of Bayern Munich's fans.

At the moment Ronaldinho slipped, and Kahn saved the ball, Aldrich's companions all bowed their heads in despair, yet he stood tall, watching the field.

Bayern Munich celebrated, while many of Millwall's players were left on the ground.

Henry sat hugging his knees, exhaling deeply.

For two consecutive seasons, he had fallen in the semifinals; last year it was Millwall who bested Monaco, and now Bayern Munich had bested Millwall.

Zambrotta and Lampard stood silently, heads bowed, while Materazzi lay on the ground staring at the night sky, remorsefully closing his eyes.

If only he could have stopped Jankel's headed assist in the early match, Effenberg wouldn't have scored!

Larsson, Nedved, and Southgate comforted their teammates.

As the match concluded, journalists and cameramen surged onto the field, eager to capture the emotions of players and coaches post-match.

When a camera lens pointed at Aldrich, he pushed it aside and turned to Hitzfeld, smiling as they shook hands.

"Congratulations to Bayern Munich on reaching the final; you deserve the victory."

Hitzfeld was taken aback by the young coach's grace at this moment, simply saying thank you, unsure of what else to add.

After congratulating Hitzfeld, Aldrich turned and marched resolutely toward the spot where the Brazilian had fallen.

At that moment, Bayern Munich's advancement seemed unimportant.

The live camera focused on Aldrich as he marched toward the fallen figure of Ronaldinho.

Everyone wondered how he would address Ronaldinho, who had missed the decisive penalty.

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